Apparatus used to interface a peripheral device to a computer employing a reconfigurable interface circuit

• US 5,615,344 A
• Filed: 03/16/1995
• Issued: 03/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: New Media Corp. (e-New Media Digital Entertainment Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: New Media Corp. (e-New Media Digital Entertainment Ltd.)
• Inventors: Corder, Rodney J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ray, Gopal C.
• Application Number:
  US08/406,771
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 395/325, 395/275, 395/309, 395/280, 395/882, 395/823, 395/828, 395/200.01, 395/500, 370/85.1, 340/825.06, 439/55
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4072 Drivers or receivers G06F13/4086 takes precedence; for multistate logic circuits H03K19/0002
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4415 Self describing peripheral devices

Abstract

An apparatus used to interface a peripheral device to a computer has an adapter card that plugs into the computer and a smart cable that plugs into the adapter card at one end and the peripheral device at the other. The adapter card includes a reconfigurable interface circuit that is in communication with the computer when the adapter card is connected to the computer. The smart cable includes a first memory containing configuration information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, and a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the reconfigurable interface circuit. The two memories are accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card. The smart cable further includes a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with the peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable. Connectors between the computer and the adapter card, the adapter card and the smart cable, and the smart cable and the peripheral device are also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising:

an adapter card including a reconfigurable interface circuit that is in communication with a computer when the adapter card is connected to the computer, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit whose circuit structure is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit, wherein the reconfigurable interface circuit is a reconfigurable PCMCIA interface chip;

an adapter card/computer external connector configured to connect the adapter card to the computer, a portion of the adapter card/computer external connector being in the computer and a portion of the adapter card/computer external connector being in the adapter card;

a smart cable including

a first memory containing configuration information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the first memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card,

a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the second memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card, and

a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with the peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable;

a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to the adapter card, a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the adapter card and a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the smart cable; and

a peripheral device/smart cable connector configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable, a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the smart cable and a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the peripheral device.

2. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising:

an adapter card including a reconfigurable interface circuit that is in communication with a computer when the adapter card is connected to the computer, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit whose hardware structure is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit;

an adapter card/computer external connector configured to connect the adapter card to the computer, a portion of the adapter card/computer external connector being in the computer and a portion of the adapter card/computer external connector being in the adapter card, wherein the adapter card/computer external connector is a 68-pin connector;

a smart cable including

a first memory containing configuration information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the first memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card,

a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the second memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card, and

a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with the peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable;

a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to the adapter card, a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the adapter card and a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the smart cable; and

a peripheral device/smart cable connector configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable, a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the smart cable and a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the peripheral device.

3. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising:

an adapter card including a reconfigurable interface circuit that is in communication with a computer when the adapter card is connected to the computer, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit whose hardware structure is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit;

an adapter card/computer external connector configured to connect the adapter card to the computer, a portion of the adapter card/computer external connector being in the computer and a portion of the adapter card computer external connector being in the adapter card;

a smart cable including

a first memory containing configuration information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the first memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card, wherein the first memory is a serial-configuration memory,

a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the second memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card, and

a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with the peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable;

a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to the adapter card, a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the adapter card and a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the smart cable; and

a peripheral device/smart cable connector configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable, a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the smart cable and a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the peripheral device.

4. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising:

an adapter card including a reconfigurable interface circuit that is in communication with a computer when the adapter card is connected to the computer, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit whose hardware structure is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit;

an adapter card/computer external connector configured to connect the adapter card to the computer, a portion of the adapter card/computer external connector being in the computer and a portion of the adapter card/computer external connector being in the adapter card;

a smart cable including

a first memory containing configuration information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the first memory being accessible by the. reconfigurable Interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card,

a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the second memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card, wherein the second memory is a serial-configuration memory, and

a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with the peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable;

a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to the adapter card, a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the adapter card and a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the smart cable; and

a peripheral device/smart cable connector configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable, a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the smart cable and a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the peripheral device.

5. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising:

an adapter card including a reconfigurable interface circuit that is in communication with a computer when the adapter card is connected to the computer, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit whose hardware structure is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit;

an adapter card/computer external connector configured to connect the adapter card to the computer, a portion of the adapter card/computer external connector being in the computer and a portion of the adapter card/computer external connector being in the adapter card;

a smart cable including

a first memory containing configuration information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the first memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card,

second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the second memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card, and

a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with the peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable;

a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to the adapter card, a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the adapter card and a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the smart cable, where in the smart cable/adapter card connector is a 23-pin connector; and

a peripheral device/smart cable connector configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable, a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the smart cable and a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the peripheral device.

6. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising an adapter card including

a reconfigurable interface circuit that is in communication with a computer when the adapter card is connected to the computer, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit that is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit from a memory located external to the apparatus, wherein the reconfigurable interface circuit is a reconfigurable PCMCIA interface chip;

a portion of an adapter card/computer connector configured to connect the adapter card to the computer, the portion of the adapter card/computer connector being supported on the adapter card and being electrically connected to the reconfigurable interface circuit; and

a portion of a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect a smart cable to the adapter card, the portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being supported on the adapter card and being electrically connected to the reconfigurable interface circuit.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the memory located external to the apparatus is located on the smart cable.

8. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising an adapter card including

a reconfigurable interface circuit that is in communication with a computer when the adapter card is connected to the computer, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit that is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit from a memory located external to the apparatus;

a portion of an adapter card/computer connector configured to connect the adapter card to the computer, the portion of the adapter card/computer connector being supported on the adapter card and being electrically connected to the reconfigurable interface circuit, wherein the adapter card/computer connector is a 68-pin connector; and

a portion of a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect a smart cable to the adapter card, the portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being supported on the adapter card and being electrically connected to the reconfigurable interface circuit.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the memory located external to the apparatus is located on the smart cable.

10. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising a smart cable including

a first memory containing configuration information for a reconfigurable interface circuit, the first memory being accessible by an external reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the external reconfigurable interface circuit, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit that is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit, wherein the first memory is a serial-configuration memory;

a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the external reconfigurable interface circuit, the second memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the external reconfigurable interface circuit;

a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with a peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the reconfigurable interface circuit and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable;

a portion of a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to an adapter card upon which the reconfigurable interface circuit resides; and

a portion of a peripheral device/smart cable connector configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable.

11. An apparatus for interfacing peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising a smart cable including

a first memory containing configuration information for a reconfigurable interface circuit, the first memory being accessible by an external reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the external reconfigurable interface circuit, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit that is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit;

a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the external reconfigurable interface circuit, the second memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the external reconfigurable interface circuit, wherein the second memory is a serial-configuration memory;

a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with a peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the reconfigurable interface circuit and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable;

a portion of a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to an adapter card upon which the reconfigurable interface circuit resides; and

a portion of a peripheral device/smart cable connector configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable.

12. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising a smart cable including

a first memory containing configuration information for a reconfigurable interface circuit, the first memory being accessible by an external reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the external reconfigurable interface circuit, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit that is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit;

a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the external reconfigurable interface circuit, the second memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the external reconfigurable interface circuit, wherein the first memory and the second memory are contained in a single memory device;

a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with a peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the reconfigurable interface circuit and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable;

a portion of a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to an adapter card upon which the reconfigurable interface circuit resides; and

a portion of a peripheral device/smart cable connector configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable.

13. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising a smart cable including

a first memory containing configuration information for a reconfigurable interface circuit, the first memory being accessible by an external reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the external reconfigurable interface circuit, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit that is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit;

a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the external reconfigurable interface circuit, the second memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable i s connected to the external reconfigurable interface circuit;

a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with a peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the reconfigurable interface circuit and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable;

portion of a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to an adapter card upon which the reconfigurable interface circuit resides, wherein the smart cable/adapter card connector is a 23-pin connector; and

a portion of a peripheral device/smart cable connector configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable.